Celebrating Community Rewilding
Reflecting on TKRI’s inaugural year of community-led restoration
Words and photos by TKRI
A group of snorkelers exploring the community’s kelp restoration site at Te Kohuroa Matheson Bay
In May 2026, community, project partners, mana whenua and environmental specialists came together to celebrate the outcomes of the rewilding program at Te Kohuroa Matheson Bay, after a successful season of restoration.
TKRI’s inaugural year one program launched in September 2025, with support from a collective of organisations, individuals and community. After the success of the pilot program, TKRI and its community committed to the long-term development of the project’s vision, by strengthening its ridge to reef restoration plan and focusing on mana whenua aligned solutions, alongside equitable involvement for kaimahi (volunteers) from a range of different backgrounds.
In kōanga (spring), rewilding participants came together to train in scientific snorkelling skills in preparation for the season’s kelp restoration activities. Freshwater surveying and community-led monitoring also began, including the annual kina wellbeing survey. Volunteers attended an educational workshop about pekapeka (bats) and kauri forest protections, searched for macro invertebrates in the awa (stream) and measured changes in the health of the rimurimu (seaweed) forests.
As the pohutukawa began to flower, and raumati (summer) arrived, kaimahi spent time at te tātahi (the beach) learning about marine ecosystem stressors and training in respectful environmental practices for the kina for kai harvesting program. Overpopulated kina were then carefully removed from the reef to support the regeneration of the kelp forest, as well as providing kaimoana (seafood) for local whānau, hapū and community.
In ngahuru (autumn), the catchment monitoring program carried out īnanga surveys to identify critical spawning habitat, and the science team measured changes in rimurimu and kina presence within the restoration site. Auckland Council’s parks and mana whenua outcomes team supported local tamariki (children) to learn about the importance of the ngāhere (forest) through a te ao Māori lens, then the community gathered at the end of the season to reflect on their mahi (work), and observe changes in the whenua (land), moana (ocean) and each other at the annual community consultation event.
TKRI’s Rewilding Ranger team worked together with community participants to measure kina wellbeing through an annual survey.
A vision for future community stewardship
The feedback gathered at the community consultation event was overwhelmingly positive, with an average satisfaction score of 9.2/10 (measured from community polls), which reflected strong support for both the outcomes of year one and the future direction of TKRI. Several key themes emerged as participants engaged in presentations, discussions and planning exercises to help the community summarise their rewilding goals for the future.
Strong support was given for the importance of long-term restoration, collaboration, education and community-led kaitiakitanga at Te Kohuroa Matheson Bay. There was also a shared acknowledgement around the interconnectedness of the awa and moana, and the need to continue building educational and monitoring processes that help the community to better understand environmental changes and pressures such as sedimentation.
The panel discussion, which brought together the voices of rangatahi Māori and environmental specialists, created space for the community to ask questions about changes in te taiao and contribute their ideas for the future. These in depth conversations highlighted the ongoing need for alignment with mana whenua, continued volunteer skill-building and increased opportunities for emerging leaders and intergenerational knowledge sharing. The community then explored ideas to support existing and future environmental protections, and pathways for local residents to help educate visitors about the importance of the marine ecosystem management and TKRI's ongoing mahi. Community connection was also seen as central to creating lasting change, with education and meaningful participation helping to build the skills, confidence and stewardship needed for the future.
Community connection was seen as central to creating lasting change, with education and meaningful participation helping to build the skills, confidence and stewardship needed for the future.
Looking ahead
As TKRI’s reef to ridge restoration vision continues to develop through the upcoming rewilding season (year two), the project’s goals will remain focused on developing collaboratively designed, place-based restoration processes that enhance the wellbeing of the environment and the community.
The feedback gathered through this year’s consultation process will continue to shape TKRI’s ground up approach to community-led rewilding, and create pathways that support positive intergenerational shifts in how communities care for ‘their blue backyard’. Together, with ongoing collaboration with mana whenua and partner organisations, the community’s voice will continue to provide a strong foundation for the rewilding program at Te Kohuroa Matheson Bay, with everyone working together to restore the ecosystem while building the relationships, knowledge and the community capacity needed to care for the environment for generations to come.
